Mid to Long-term Outcome of Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion

Background: Cervical degenerative conditions such as intervertebral disc prolapse and degenerative cervical spondylosis results in pain and disability, especially in the middle age and elderly. The treatment of choice is surgical decompression once conservative treatment fails. We studied the outcome of anterior cervical decom-pression with instrumented fusion in order to analyse its effectiveness in terms of pain and disability improve-ment. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study. 30 patients were operated during June 2013 and May 2015 (2 years). All patients operated for cervical degenerative conditions were included.Data was collected about neck pain and functional impairment preoperatively using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. The same scales were used during the follow-period for 6 months. Favourable outcome was defined as 50% reduction in pain and functional improvement to Grade 1 (12 – 15) or normal scores (16 – 17). Results: Mean age was 59.70 years ±8.12SD.Mean preoperative VAS was 6.70 and it was 1.80 ± 0.85 SD at 6 – month follow-up. Mean JOA score was 11.57 preoperatively while at 6-month follow-up, it was 14.97 ± 1.92 SD. There was a significant difference between mean VAS score preoperatively and mean VAS score postoperatively (mean difference; 4.9, 95% CI; 4.48 to 5.32, p < 0.001, t(29): 23.86). Similarly, there was statistically significant difference between mean JOA score preoperatively and mean JOA scores postoperatively (mean difference; -3.4, 95% CI; -3.95 to -2.85, p < 0.001, t(29): -12.61). Conclusion: Anterior cervical decompression with graft placement and instrumented fusion are safe and effective methods for relieving pain as well functional improvement in patients with cervical radiculopathy and myelopathy.Keywords: , , , , surgical outcome

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Concrete and Self-Healing Phenomena by adding Bacteria, Silica fume and Fibres

Concrete which is the most useable material in the world after the water has flaws, it is susceptible to cracking over time. These cracks occur in the form of shear cracks, flexural cracks, tension cracks, shrinkage cracks etc. With these cracks, some hair-like cracks also occur in concrete which are not visible during the visual inspection. The propagation of these cracks in concrete allows the water and many other chemicals to seep inside the concrete and leads to a decrease in its properties. Such properties include decreasing durability, erosion of rebars, and progressive failure in the concrete strength. Therefore, the repair of hair-like cracks is also essential for the long-term safety of structures. In the present study the Silica fume, and Polypropylene fibres are added to a rich concrete along with the bacteria named Bacillus Subtilis and Calcium Lactate for enhancement of its mechanical properties and self-healing phenomena. The effect of bacteria in the healing phenomenon and other properties is compared to normal concrete by casting the cylinders and beams. The slump, compressive strength, tensile strength, and self-healing phenomena are tested and found the increase in mechanical properties of concrete. The self-healing phenomena of cracks is observed by the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

A robust control design approach for altitude control and trajectory tracking of a quadrotor

Introduction. Unmanned aerial vehicles as quadcopters, twin rotors, fixed-wing crafts, and helicopters are being used in many applications these days. Control approaches applied on the quadrotor after decoupling the model or separate altitude control and trajectory tracking have been reported in the literature. A robust linear H∞ controller has been designed for both altitude control and circular trajectory tracking at the desired altitude. Problem. The ability of the quadrotor system to hover at a certain height and track any desired trajectory makes their use in many industrial applications in both military and civil applications. Once a controller has been designed, it may not be able to maintain the desired performance in practical scenarios, i.e. in presence of wind gusts. Originality. This work presents the control strategy to ensure both altitude control and trajectory tracking using a single controller. Purpose. However, there is a need for a single controller that ensures both altitude control and trajectory tracking. Novelty. This paper presents a robust H∞ control for altitude control and trajectory tracking for a six degree of freedom of unmanned aerial vehicles quadrotor. Methodology. Multi input multi output robust H∞ controller has been proposed for the quadrotor for altitude control and tracking the desired reference. For the controller validation, a simulation environment is developed in which a 3D trajectory is tracked by the proposed control methodology. Results. Simulation results depict that the controller is efficient enough to achieve the desired objective at minimal control efforts. Practical value. To verify that the proposed approach is able to ensure stability, altitude control, and trajectory tracking under practical situations, the performance of the proposed control is tested in presence of wind gusts. The ability of the controller to cater to the disturbances within fractions of seconds and maintaining both transient and steady-state performance proves the effectiveness of the controller.Вступ. Безпілотні літальні апарати, такі як квадрокоптери, двороторні апарати, апарати з нерухомими крилами та гелікоптери сьогодні використовуються у багатьох сферах застосування. У літературі повідомляється про підходи до керування, застосовані на квадрокоптері після від’єднання моделі або окремого контролю висоти та відстеження траєкторії. Надійний лінійний регулятор H∞ був розроблений як для контролю висоти, так і для відстеження кругової траєкторії на потрібній висоті. Проблема. Здатність квадрокоптерної системи зависати на певній висоті та відстежувати будь-яку бажану траєкторію робить їх застосування можливим у багатьох сферах як у військових, так і в цивільних цілях. Розроблений контролер може не підтримувати бажані характеристики у реальних умовах, тобто за наявності поривів вітру. Оригінальність. У цій роботі представлена стратегія керування, яка забезпечує як контроль висоти, так і відстеження траєкторії за допомогою одного контролера. Мета. Однак існує потреба в єдиному контролері, який забезпечує як контроль висоти, так і відстеження траєкторії. Новизна. У цій статті представлено надійний регулятор H∞ для контролю висоти та відстеження траєкторії для шести ступенів свободи безпілотних літальних апаратів. Методологія. Для квадрокоптера запропоновано багатовхідний багатовихідний надійний контролер H∞ для контролю висоти та відстеження бажаного курсу. Для перевірки контролера розробляється середовище моделювання, в якому тривимірна траєкторія відстежується за запропонованою методологією керування. Результати. Результати моделювання показують, що контролер є досить ефективним для досягнення бажаної мети при мінімальних зусиллях контролю. Практична цінність. Щоб переконатися, що запропонований підхід здатний забезпечити стабільність, контроль висоти та відстеження траєкторії в реальних ситуаціях, параметри запропонованого контролю перевіряються за наявності поривів вітру. Здатність контролера усувати порушення протягом кількох секунд і підтримувати як перехідні, так і стабільні показники доводить ефективність контролера

Two-phase flow regimes of condensing R-134a at low mass flux in rectangular microchannels

Qualitative two-phase flow regime data are obtained from high-speed visualization of condensing flows of R-134a at mass fluxes from 75 to 150 kg m−2 s−1 and quality from 0.1 to 0.8 in square microchannels (DH = 0.84 mm) cooled from a single side. Superheated R-134a is distributed into multiple parallel microchannels and then partially condensed, using a counterflow water loop, to the desired quality prior to the inlet of a visualization section. This experimental arrangement mitigates the potential for flow maldistribution. Despite very small heat duties, a low uncertainty in the quality in the visualization section is maintained by enforcing a large temperature difference on the water-side (ΔT > 10 K). For all conditions, annular or annular/wavy type flow were observed, with no distinct intermittent flow. Data are compared with flow macro and mini/microchannel maps, which are shown to over predict the occurrence of intermittent or wavy flow

Exogenous application of gibberellic acid improves the maize crop productivity under scarce and sufficient soil moisture condition

Drought stress creates imbalance or deficiency of some growth regulators in plants, which leads toward reduced crop yield. Gibberellic acid is one of the most important growth regulators in plants, which improve drought tolerance in plants under optimum concentration. A field experiment was conducted under exogenous application of gibberellic acid under normal or drought condition and with or without gibberellic acid application. Crop growth and yield parameters were assesses during the experimentation. Study revealed that crop reduced growth in term of leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), crop growth rate (CGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and total dry matter (TDM) under drought condition, while these parameters were improved with gibberellic acid application. Similary, improved growth rate resulted in better performance of yield attributes (cob length, cob diameter, grains per cob, grain weight and yield). Gibberellic acid application improved the crop performance at optimum irrigation, as well as under reduced irrigation. Although highest crop yield was recorded with gibberellic acid application under optimum irrigation level, while its application under drought stress improved crop tolerance and resulted in better crop yield, similar to optimum irrigation level. Exogenous application of gibberellic acid not only improved the drought tolerance in maize, but also increased the crop yield under normal condition

The Merging of Two Dynasties—Identification of an African Cotton Leaf Curl Disease-Associated Begomovirus with Cotton in Pakistan

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is a severe disease of cotton that occurs in Africa and Pakistan/northwestern India. The disease is caused by begomoviruses in association with specific betasatellites that differ between Africa and Asia. During survey of symptomatic cotton in Sindh (southern Pakistan) Cotton leaf curl Gezira virus (CLCuGV), the begomovirus associated with CLCuD in Africa, was identified. However, the cognate African betasatellite (Cotton leaf curl Gezira betasatellite) was not found. Instead, two Asian betasatellites, the CLCuD-associated Cotton leaf curl Multan betasatellite (CLCuMB) and Chilli leaf curl betasatellite (ChLCB) were identified. Inoculation of the experimental plant species Nicotiana benthamiana showed that CLCuGV was competent to maintain both CLCuMB and ChLCB. Interestingly, the enations typical of CLCuD were only induced by CLCuGV in the presence of CLCuMB. Also in infections involving both CLCuMB and ChLCB the enations typical of CLCuMB were less evident. This is the first time an African begomovirus has been identified on the Indian sub-continent, highlight the growing threat of begomoviruses and particularly the threat of CLCuD causing viruses to cotton cultivation in the rest of the world

Body image disturbance and surgical decision making in egyptian post menopausal breast cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In most developing countries, as in Egypt; postmenopausal breast cancer cases are offered a radical form of surgery relying on their unawareness of the subsequent body image disturbance. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of breast cancer surgical choice; Breast Conservative Therapy (BCT) versus Modified Radical Mastectomy (MRM); on body image perception among Egyptian postmenopausal cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred postmenopausal women with breast cancer were divided into 2 groups, one group underwent BCT and the other underwent MRM. Pre- and post-operative assessments of body image distress were done using four scales; Breast Impact of Treatment Scale (BITS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), Situational Discomfort Scale (SDS), and Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Preoperative assessment showed no statistical significant difference regarding cognitive, affective, behavioral and evaluative components of body image between both studied groups. While in postoperative assessment, women in MRM group showed higher levels of body image distress among cognitive, affective and behavioral aspects.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Body image is an important factor for postmenopausal women with breast cancer in developing countries where that concept is widely ignored. We should not deprive those cases from their right of less mutilating option of treatment as BCT.</p

Evaluate Asymmetric Peristaltic Pumping Drug Carrying Image in Biological System: Measure Multiphase Flows in Biomedical Applications

The proposed model of drug delivery has been developed as a medication methodology for the direct treatment of diseased body tissues. The mathematical model is built upon the particulate peristaltic transport of an electrical conducting Jeffrey fluid within an asymmetric duct. The flow takes place under the action of slip effects due to the occurrence of magnetohydrodynamics, which is generally known as electrical resistance and the energy released by charged particles as they make collisions with other particles. Transportation of drug particles along with Jeffry fluid due to peristaltic pumping in a rectangular duct is demonstrated. Magnetic force is utilized for the control of the process of pumping to the flow path at the right position. Taking into consideration the flow conditions and assumptions, the derivation of the system of partial differential equations of the flow is described. The eigenfunction expansion method is used to establish the solutions, and then the data are graphically displayed to imagine the effects of different parameters. It can be professed that the velocity component for Jeffrey fluid flow is decreased because of magnetic force, volume fraction size, and wall compliance. Heat and mass transfer with nanoparticles of different shapes of particles to extend this work

Evaluate Asymmetric Peristaltic Pumping Drug Carrying Image in Biological System: Measure Multiphase Flows in Biomedical Applications

The proposed model of drug delivery has been developed as a medication methodology for the direct treatment of diseased body tissues. The mathematical model is built upon the particulate peristaltic transport of an electrical conducting Jeffrey fluid within an asymmetric duct. The flow takes place under the action of slip effects due to the occurrence of magnetohydrodynamics, which is generally known as electrical resistance and the energy released by charged particles as they make collisions with other particles. Transportation of drug particles along with Jeffry fluid due to peristaltic pumping in a rectangular duct is demonstrated. Magnetic force is utilized for the control of the process of pumping to the flow path at the right position. Taking into consideration the flow conditions and assumptions, the derivation of the system of partial differential equations of the flow is described. The eigenfunction expansion method is used to establish the solutions, and then the data are graphically displayed to imagine the effects of different parameters. It can be professed that the velocity component for Jeffrey fluid flow is decreased because of magnetic force, volume fraction size, and wall compliance. Heat and mass transfer with nanoparticles of different shapes of particles to extend this work